nieces

I just love my nieces and their friends.  I'd say they rock, but I am not sure that 'rock' is a cool phrase anymore.  They are all willing subjects... I oft tire of taking pics of them before they tire of being subjects. Adults, we could all learn from that - for what it's worth.  


My sister's daughter is a challenging subject.  She's simply beautiful, but she's also a director... she's convinced that she, only only she, knows what poses work for her.  So, I roll with it.  Can't complain about the results.




My sister's neighbor has a very beautiful child. I love my gear, but all this kid needed was some fill flash and BOOM, great pic.

Off to my brother's house.  His daughters are older, but still just as innocent in front of the lens.  I just love my family. 

So cute!



Best part, all I have to say is "do something funny" and this appears instantly.  It's like they been holding it in forever!



My God-daughter.  Lucky guy I am.





The requisite outtake...

Celebrate the kids in your life - their the best of who we are...

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the other side of the lens

Sarah and I are in the process of adopting. We're on the wait list and have had some near misses, but still waiting. Waiting for a child to call your own is a pretty surreal experience. I can't quite explain what it's like. Sarah, on the other hand, has no problem (nor inhibition) describing how she feels... "It's like I've been 9 months pregnant for 2 years."

Regardless, we can tell you this - being on hold has made our favorite phone call also our least favorite. We've gotten the "we've had a baby" call three times this year, twice from some of our dearest friends. We are SO happy for them, and are grateful and blessed to share in their joy. Still it makes the longing we have for a child weigh even heavier on our own souls.

At least I am getting some good practice with baby pics. Below are some shots from the most recent arrival. I am really happy with the pics, but I also look very forward to the day I can experience the arrival of a child from the other side of the lens.

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Waterloo Girl

The contrasts between reunions on Sarah's side and my side of the family are pretty interesting. Sarah's extended (and I mean extended) family participates. She knows half of folks that attend, which means I know maybe a dozen. The event lasts an afternoon. That many people in that short of time frame and... Mr. Introvert is outta the tent and onto photogging! Fortunately, this annual reunion yields in some of the best still-life photography I do....

Then there's the reunion on my side of the family.... mostly my immediate family, S.O.'s and nieces. And it's a week long. The Vomastek's love it, but you can tell it wears on the significant others a bit. Those reunions are a textbook example of an overindulgence in food, vino and fun. Still great photo ops... albeit dominated by willing nieces!

Our families are diverse in many ways. Perhaps not in the traditional sense, but certainly in a practical one. Sarah and I know we are blessed to have such great families on both sides of our marriage. WE LOVE YOU GUYS!

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PS - you can find the full gallery from Sarah's reunion here... http://lakeshoreclick.com/family/bollingerreunion2009/